Hood clamp



Jan.. 16, 1923..

LMZQ. L. A. SWEET.

HOOD CLAMP.

FILED DEc..l3. 1920.

Patented dan.. in, H923.

i i@ er .application filed December 13, 1920. Serial No. 43m-tot; I

To all whom. t may concern:

Be it known that l, Laurence' A. SWEET, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a n'ew and useful improvement in Hood Clamps, and the following is such a full,

clear, and exact disclosure of the manner of constructing and using the device that anylo one skilled in the art to which it appertains may make and use the same.

My. invention Ipertains primarily to clamps, and particularly to a clamp adapted for use in connection with motor vehicles, and the like, to securely hold the engine hood down and prevent rattling.

Specilically my invention comprises a means .'or accomplishing the aforementioned purpose, which is durable, inexpensive to manufacture, and which may vbe easily and quickly applied to any standard make of motor vehicle. v

My principal object in perfecting the the present invention was to provide a device of this character, embodying, among other features, a principle of vleverage whereby a maximum of torce can be applied tothe hood, to hold it securely in place, with a minimum of physical exertion.

A 'further object is the inclusion of-certain structural features which make lthe device adjustable, thereby providing a takeup means to compensate for looseness, due to wear and the consequent misfit ofthe parts involved.

.In the preferred form of my device I have eliminated the spriiigs commonly used heretofore in devices of this nature, first, for the purpose oi overcoming the usual diffi- 40 culties attendant upon their use; and, second, to obviate the possibility of the clamp becoming loose and rattly, which condition generally results from clamps depending upon springs to main-tain' their holding force.

The most common difliculty experienced in the use of clamps embodying springs in their construction is that the clamps, being mounted on the vehicle frame intermediate the 'fenders and the hood, are more or less inaccessible; and are, therefore, not easily operated against the necessarily strong tension of their holding springs, without leaning against the fenders, these being generally dirty and dusty and resulting in soiling ones' clothing. Another objection is that, owing to the tact that the springs are usually very strong, which must oi necessity be the' case to accomplish the desired results, care must be taken to avoid pinching or bruising the hand, between the clamp and the hood, when operating them.

l believe l have successfully overcome these aforementioned objectionable 'features in the construction l have incorporated in my device, the details of which will be fully disclosed in the following specification, reterence being made therein to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. .l is a fragmentary front elevation of a motorv vehicle, showing the radiator mounted between the `trame sections, with fragments ot the wheel lenders thereon, and showing my invention as applied thereto; Fig. `2 isa side elevation oi my improved clamp, parts being shown in section, and showing its attachment on the vehicle in 'clamped position; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. .2, only lshowing the device in unclamped or released position; Fig. 4L is a plan view of the device, taken as indicated by the line 4-4 on Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an 'elevation voithe same, taken as indicated by the line .of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 '1s a transverse vertical section taken as indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. Q, 'only showing 'a modified `form of my device; F ig. Sis a view similar 'to Fig. 7, showing the modified form ot the device in its unclamped position, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 3.

Referring now particularly to Figs. l to 6, inclusive, the numeral 10 designates a typical -motor vehicle radiator, suitably supported in any manner between the longitudinal side frame members ll; the motor cover'12, commonly 'termed the hood, b'eing supported at one end upon the radiator 10, the opposite end being supported upon the vehicle body, or on the outer `lace' oi the cowl, in the customary manner. A typical hood 12 is generally constructed ot' two parts i3, to' extend over the motor in a plane with the outline 'oi that portion oi the radiator extending above the top edges of the 4trarne members ll; these twoside portions 13 being centrally hinged together upon a common supporting rod 14. one end of which is supported upon the radiator and the opposite end upon 'the vehicle body.

With this construction, oneside of the hood" may be raised independently of the other;-

` when down between the wheel fenders 16 Fig.

mounted on the vehicle frame.

and the said portions 1'3. The wheel fenders 16 generally have a portion 17 extending over the lframe `members 11, by which theyv are usually secured to these members; in which case, my device will be mounted on top of the ortions 17, its fasteningmeans extending t rough these portions and into the vframe membersll. From the disclosure to be hereafter made,.it will be noted t-hat,

`although my device is. mounted'upon the vehicle frame intermediate the Afenders 16I and the hood portions 13', nevertheless, owing to its particular type of construction, it can be very easily and conveniently operated.'

The preferred form of my clampcomprises essentially a supporting rod 1 8, upon which is adjustably mounted a bearing sleeve 19,l having a clamping member 20 slidably mounted thereon, the latter being lactuated through thel medium of a hand lever 21 connected thereto by means of connecting linksl 22. 'In performing its clamping function the cla-mp member 20 is adapted to engage a clampbracket 23, rigidly secured to the hood member 13 adjacent its bottom edge 24.

The supporting rod 18 has an enlarged .end 25, preferably formed integral therew-ith, by means of which it is pivotally The enlarged end 25 is retained within a socket' member 26. rigidly .mounted on the frame members 11 by means of bolts 27, passing through apertures in ears 28. The socket member 26 may be formed of light steel, or other suitable material. and is pressed out to form the socket 29, in which the end 25 is retained; the rod 18 extending through an aperture 30. in the top thereof, as clearly yshown in Figs.l 2, 3 and 5. The top surface of the end 25 is preferably curved.l the lower surfaces thereof being angular and converging downwardly towards the center (see 5); these angular surfaces being adapted to contact with the frame member to form a support whereby the rod 18 will be permitted a certain latitude of pivotal movement, and at t-he saine time be retained in a nearly upright position when not in locked engagement with the bracket 23. While this type of construction is preferred, it is nevertheless obvious that any type of ball 1,44aaee and s ocketjoint may be provided for suitably mountingv the rod 18 on the frame members;`

The upper end'of the rod 18 is screw- `threaded,fas at 31", by means of which the sleeve. bearing 19 is .adjustably mounted thereon; the latter being internally screwthreaded adjacent its lower end (see Fig. 6) to engage the threads 31. A lock nut 32 is provided on the rod 18, below the bearing.

sleeve 19, to lock the latter in its adjusted position.

The bearing s'leeve 19 is preferably cylindrical, and has an axial bore 33, above its internally screw-threaded portion, through which the rod 18 is adapted to extend in its various adjustments; the sleeve, as a whole, being ofany length suitable tol accomplish the desired results..v A

The clamp member 20 hereinafter termed the clamping collar, is preferably cylindrical and has ingly engage the periphery ofv thel bearing sleeve 19. The sleeve 19 is cut awa or flattened, as at 35, leaving arcuate iametrically opposed bearing surfaces 19a with a central bore V34 adapted to slidwhich the surface of the bore 34 engages to permit the ysliding movement of the clamp member 20. It also has an annular flange 36 around its lower end,thereby providing an adequate surface to engage the bracketl 23.

As hereinbefore stated, the clamping co1- lar 2 0 is slidingly reciprocated on the bearing sleeve 19 by means of the lever 21 and the links 22. The lever 21- is preferably of the configuration shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, having a hooked distal end, the big t 38 of which is adapted to be engaged by the fingers or finger tovrelease the clamp, as will be more fully hereinafter explained; 'and providing a curved,

be likewise engaged; in thesurface 39, to clamping operation. The opposite end of the lever 21 is bifurcated, as at 40, for the reception of a radial lug 41, formed ori-the sleeve 19; the lug 41 and the bifurcations 40 being co-axially bored for the reception of a pin.42, forming a pivotal theV lever 21 turns. The pivot pin42is preferably countersunk in the outer faces of the bifurcations 40and the ends riveted over and made flush with the outer faces thereof. so as not to interfere with the movement of the links 2 2.

The links 22 extend on either side of the lever 21, being pivotally connected thereto at a point a short distance from itsfproximal end, (intermediate this end and-,its distal end), by means of a ends of the links extend on either side of a radially disposed lug 44, formed integral withl the clamping collar 20. being retained in pivotal engagement therewith by means of a pin 45. The pins 42, 43 and 45 are so positioned in alignment that when the decenter about which pin 43. The oppositeA ortion 37. formed' at its i Mensen vice is in clamping position, as shown in Fig. 2, and the lever 21 is abutting against the lug 44, limiting its downward movement, the pin 43 will be aligned slightly off-center, or slightly beyond a line drawn through the centers of pins 42 and 45, thereby insuring its remaining in locked position, due to a pressurable contact between the clamp sleeve 2U and the bracket 23. This construction is in operation and effect a toggle mechanism.

The bracket 23 may be formed of sheet met-al, or a cast meta-l, if desired, the former being preferred, however, as it will afford a slight resilience which will assist in the clamping operation. These brackets are angular, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, having a supporting arm 46 and a clamping arm 47. They are supported on the hood members 12 by means of bolts 48, extending through the clamping arm 46, or in any other suitable manner. The clamping arm 47 is4 slotted inwardly from its outer edge -as at 49., for the reception of the bearing sleeve 19. The slot 49. is preferably of a width slightly less than the diameter of the sleeve 19, and the latter is flattened, as at 35,. on diametrically opposite sides, so the lateral edges as of the slot 49 will engage these surfaces and prevent the sleeve from turning, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The clamping arm 47 may be rebated or slightly dished, to form a seat 50 for the clamping sleeve 2O which will prevent accidental displacement of the clamping device if it should become a little loose. lt is to be understood that this particular forni of bracket 23 is merely typical of that which may be employed and that it is not necessary that the clamping member and bracket cooperate in the specific manner herein set forth as they might well be modied to cooperate in other manners; for instance. they might be modified to cooperate or engage each other with more or less of a hooking action.

ln operation (the preferred form of my device as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5l when in unclamped position, the arm 21 is raised, thereby raising the clamping collar 20 upwardly on the bearing sleeve 19. and out of engagement with the clamping bracket 23 (see Fig. Vhen the collar 20 is raised out of engagement with this bracket the supiporting rod 18 is free to pivot in the socket member 26. thereby permitting its removal from the slot 49. and permitting the hood section 12 to be raised. To effect its locking engagement. the rod 18, pivoting in the socket member 26, is manually moved into position so the bearing sleeve 19 can be slipped in the slot 49, after which the lever 21 is pushed downwardly (from the position shown in Figr 3 to the position shown in Fig. 2) which brings the collar 20 down and into engagement with the seat 50 in the arm 47.' thereby forcing the lower end 24 of the hood section 12 into engagement with fender section 17, and clamping it tightly in thatposition. ln' being forced into clamping position the lever 21 is pushed down until it abuts against the lug 44, on the collar 20, at which time the pin 43 has passed beyond the center line passing through the pins 42 and 45, and thus being past center, the upward pressure against the collar 2O will securely hold the device in locked position. The lower end 24 of hood section 12 need not necessarily contact with the fender section 17 when in locked position, in order to prevent rattling, as the device is capable of exerting a sunicient pressure on the bracket 23 to hold the hood securely dow-n on its upper supports.

ln the modied form shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the supporting rod 18, having its upper 'end screw-threaded at 31, is typical of the supporting rod 18, shown in the other figures of the drawing. A. cylindrical adjusting member 51 has an outwardly extending lug 52, formed integral with its upper end. in which is an internally screw-thread? ed bore 53, by means of which the member 51 is adjnstablyv mounted on the rod 18a. The member 51 has an axial bore 54 in which a rod 55 is slidably mounted; the rod 55 having a clamping head 56 on its upper end and preferably formed integral therewith. One side of the rod 55 is flattened intermediate its ends, as at 57, anda small pin 58 extending through the member 51, within the bore 54, is adapted to engage thel face 57 to prevent the pin 55 from becoming removed from the bore 54 and also from turn' ing therein.

A lever 21a is likewise pivotally mounted on the head 56, having a bifurcated end 4DR. adapted to engage a lug 41a. preferably formed integralwith the head 56. the two being retained in pivotal engagement by means of pivot pin 42a. vThe lever 21a likewise has a hook portion 37q at its distal end. forming a bight 38SL to be engaged by the fingersv for actuating the same.

A; U-shaped wire loop 59 is pivotally supported on the lever- 21a by means of a pin 43a extending through eyes 60 formed in the outer ends of its arms. The pin 43a has enlarged heads 61 on either end for retaining the eyes 60 thereon; and it is positioned on the lever 21a a short distance from the pivot pin 42a', and intermediate its proxim and distal ends. rlhe bight of the loop 59 is adapted to engage anyone of a plurality of notches 62 vformed between teeth G3 on the side ofthe member 51, to afford adjustability to the position of the clamping head 56, when in clamped position.

` lt will be noted in the modiied form of my device that the position of the actuating lever 21a is just the opposite from that shown in the preferred form; that is, it extends upthrough the centers of wardly when the device is in clamped posi` tion, instead of downwardly as in Fig. 2. For this reason a pin 64 extends through the lclamping head 56, and is adapted to be engagedby the faces 65, ofthe lever 21a, to limitits movement in clamping position. It will be furthernoted that this pin is so positioned that, when in clamped.l position, the lever 21a will be-stopped so that the piny 43a will be beyond a line passing the pin 42a and the bight of the loop 59 at the point of its engagement with one of the notches 52. This is similar to the `principle set forth in connection with the preferred formA of the device, to 4prevent accidental disengagement of the clamping head 56 from the bracket 23, when in clamped position. The `clam-'ping head 56 is likewise adapted to seat in a depression 50? in the bracket 23a-to securely hold the hood section 12V down.

In the operation of the modified form of my device, the member 51 is adjustably positioned on the rod 18 to the desiredheight to effect a clamping engagement between the head 56 and the bracket 23a. The lever 21a is then thrown down to the position shown in Fig. 8, and the bight 0f the loop 59 passed into one'of the notches 52, in the member 51, and the rods 18a and 55 then passed into the slot 49 of the bracket 23, after which the lever 21 is raised up to the position shown in Fig. 7. In raising the lever 21a it will turn about the pin 43a, in the eyes 60, as a pivot, its proximal end, through the pin 42, forcing the head 56 down and into engagement with the bracket 23, the rod 55 sliding in the bore 54 during this movement. The head 56 has a bore 66, parallel to the axis of the rod 5 5, through which the rod 18l extends when its adjustment makes this necessary in eiectin the clamping arrangement. To release theood, it is only necessary to pull 'the lever 21n downwardly from the Iposition shown in Fig. 7, to that shown in ig. 8, which movement will release the head 56 from pressurable clamping engagement with the bracket 53, after which-the device, pivoting on the lower end of the rod 18", can be withdrawn from the slot 49a.

While I have here shown and described a preferred embodiment of my device, it is nevertheless to be understood that I reserve the right to make any `changes in modification or structure which properly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described a preferred form of my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprisin a supporting rod, a relatively movable ctmping member slidably mounted on the rod and lever meansl to actuate the clamping member.

2. A device of the character described comprising a supporting rod, a relatively slidable clamping member adjustably mounted on the rod and lever means to actuate the clamping member.

3. A device of the character described comprising a clamping bracket, a supporting rod, a relatively slidable clampin member adjustably mounted on the rod an adapted to engage the clamping bracket, and positive means to attuate the clamping member to effect its engagement and disengagement with the bracket. 4. A device ofthe character described comprising a clamping bracket, a supporting rod, a relatively slidable clamping member adjustably mounted on the rod and adapted to engage the clamping bracket, and a toggle mechanism to actuate the clamping member to effect its engagement and disengagement with the bracket.

5: A device of the character described, comprising a supporting rod, a bearing sleeve mounted `on the up er end of the rod, a relatively movable c amping member slidably mounted, on the bearing sleeve, and means to control the movement of the clamping member.

6; A device of the character described, comprising a supporting rod, a bearing sleeve 'ustably mounted on the upper end of the rod, a relatively movable clamping member slidably mounted on the bearing sleeve, and positive means to control the movement of the clamping member.

7. A' device of the character described, comprising a supporting rod, a bearing sleeve mounted on-the upper end of the rod,

a relatively movable clamping member slidof the clamping member.

8. A device of the comprising `a clamping ing rod, a bearingsleeve mounted on the upper end of the rod, a relative movable clamping member slidably mounted on the bearing sleeve -and adapted to engage the clamping bracket, and means to control the movement of the clamping member to effeet its engagement and disengagement with the clampingbracket.

9. A device ofthe'character described comprising a clamping bracket, a supporting rod, a bearing sleeve adjustably mounted on the upper end of the rod, a relatively movable clamping member slidably mounted on the bearing sleeve and adapted .to engage the clamping bracket, and means in connectionwith the bearing sleeve and the clamping member to control the movement of the clamping member to effect its engagement and disengagement with the clamping bracket.

10. A devicefof the character described, comprising a clamping bracket, a supportcharacter described, bracket, a supportiaaaeee ing rod, a bearing sleeve mounted on the upper end of the rod,a relatively movable.

clamping member slidably 'mounted on the bearing sleeve and adapted to engage the clamping brackenand a positive manually operable toggle. mechanism to control the movement of the clamping member to edect its engagement and disengagement with the clamping bracket.

11. A device of the character described comprising a clamping bracket, a -pivoted supporting rod. a' bearing sleeve adjustablv mounted on the upper end of the roda'` relatively movable clamping member slidably mounted on the bearing sleeve and adapted to engage the clamping bracket, and lever means to control the movement of the clamping member to effect its engagement and disengagement vvith the clamping1 bracket.

12. 'lhe combination With-a motor vehicle having a motor hood and frame members, of a hood clamp comprising, a clamping' bracket secured to the hood, a supporting rod swivelly secured at its lower end to one of the frame members adjacent `the hood, a.

bearing sleeve adjust-ably mounted on the upper end of the clamping collar slidably mounted on the bearing sleeve and adaptedto engage the clamping bracket on the' hood, a manually opera-ble lever pivotally mounted on the upper end of the bearing sleeveand a connectingy link operatively connecting the lever with the clamping collar to ei'ect its engagement |and disengagement with the clamping bracket 13. A hood clamp comprising asupporting rod, a bearing sleeve onthe upper end of' the rod., a relatively movable clampingu collar slidably mounted on the bearing sleeve. a lever pivotally' mounted on the bearing sleeve, and a linlr operatively connecting the said lever and collar.`

1a. A hood clamp comprising a supporting rod, a bearing sleeve adjustably mounted on the upper end of the rod, a relatively movable clamping collar slidably mounted on the bearing sleeves a lever pivotally mounted on the bearing; sleeve, and a link operatively connectingv the said lever and collar.

15. A hood clamp for motor vehicles comprising a supporting rod pivotally' mounted at its lower end on the vehicle frame, a bearing sleeve adjustably mounted on the upper end of: the rod, a relatively movable clamping collar slidably mounted on the bearing sleeve9 and a manually operable toggle mechanism for actuating the clamping" collar.

16. A. hood clamp for motor vehicles comprising, a clamping bracket secured to the vehicle hood a su porting rod pivotally mounted on the ve iicle frame, a bearing* sleeve adjustably mounted on the upper end rod, a relatively movablel of the supporting rod, a relatively movably clamping collar slidably mountedv on the bearing sleeve and adapted to engage the clamping bracket,'and a manually operable toggle mechanism mounted on the sleeve and operatively connected to the 'clamping collar'to ellect the engagement. and' disengagement of the said collar with the bracket.

17. A hood clampv for motor vehicles comprising, a clamping bracket secured to the vehicle bood, a supporting rod pivotally mounted on the 'vehicle frame.,a bearingl sleeveadjustably mounted-on the upper end of the supporting rod, arelatively movable clamping collar slidably mounted on the bearing sleeve and adapted tov engage the clamping bracket, a manually y operable toggle mechanism mounted on the sleeve and operatively connected to the clampingn collar, to eiect the engagement and disengagement of the said collar with the bracket, the bracket and bearing sleeve cooperating to prevent turning of the latter.

18. A. hood clamp for motor vehicles comprising, a clamping bracket having an open ended slot secured to the vehicle hood7 a supporting rod'g'pivotally mounted at its lower end on the vehicle frame, a bearing sleeve on the upper end. of' the rod adapted to be inserted in the said slot, a` relatively movable clamping collar slidably mounted on the bearing sleeve and adapted to engage the bracket on either side of the said 4slot when the sleeveY is inserted therein., and a manually operable toggle mechanism. for actuatingA the clamping collar to effect its engagement'and disengagement with the bracket 19. A hood clamp for motor vehicles. comprisings a clamping bracket having an open. ended slot secured to the vehicle hood5 a supporting rod pivotally mounted at its lower vend on the vehicle frame? a bearing sleeve adjustably mounted on the upper end ofthe rod adapted to be inserted in the said slot,

a relatively movable clamping; collar slidably mounted on the bearing sleeve and adapted to engage the bracket on either side of the said slot when the sleeve is inserted therein, and a manually operable toggle mechanism for actuating the clamping col lar to effect engagement and disengage y ment with the bracket.

20. A hood clamp for motor vehicles com-` prising, a clamping bracket having an open ended slot secured to the vehicle hood, a supn porting rod pivotally mounted at its lower end on the vehicle frame.I a bearingl sleeve adjustably mounted on the upper end of the rod adapted to be inserted in the said slot5 a relatively movable clamping collar slidably mounted on the bearingsleeve and adapted to engage the bracket on either side of the said slot when the sleeve is inserted therein, and a manually' operable toggle mechanism for actuating the clamping colv 4end onthe vehicle frame,

lar to effect its engagement and diseng ment with the bracket, the bracket and l ing sleeve cooperating tovprevent turning of the latter.

21. A hood 'clampfor motor vehicles com prising a sup-porting rod-a bearin sleeve mounted on the upper end of said ro a relatively `movable clamping collar slidably mounted on the bearing sleeve, a lever pivotally mounted on the upper end of said sleeve and a link operatively connected at one end to the. collar and at the opposite end to the lever, the said last mentioned connection being positioned intermediate, the pivotal point and distal endv of the lever.

age-

22, A hood clamp for motor vehicles com-` prising, a clamping bracket having an .open ended slot secured to the vehicle hood, a supportingrod pivotally mounted at its lower a bearing sleeve adjustably mounted on the upper end of the rod and adapted lto be inserted in the said slot a relatively movable clamping collar sflidably mounted on the bearing sleeve and adaptedy to engage the bracket on either side of the said slot when the sleeve isinserted` v therein, a manually operable lever'pivotally mounted on the upper end of'the bearing sleeve and a link operatively connecting the said lever and collar, the link connection on the lever being ositioned intermediate its pivotal point an operative end so that when bearthe lever is in clamping position the said conneet-ion will be` beyond a line drawnthrough the pivotal point of the lever and the link connection on the collar,

23; A hood clamp for motor vehicles comprising, a clamping bracket having an open ended lslot secured to the vehicle hood, a supporting rod pivotally mounted at its lower end on the vehicle frame, a bearing sleeve a'djustably mounted on the upper end of the rod and adapted to be inserted in the said slot," the said slot and sleeve cooperating to prevent turning ofthe latter on the rod, a relatively movable clamping collar slidably mounted on the bearing sleeve and adapted to engage the bracket on either side of the said slot'when the sleeve is inserted therein, a manually operable lever pivotally mounted 'on the upper end of the bearing sleeve and a link operatively connecting the said lever and collar, thev link connection on the lever being positionedv intermediate its pivotal point andv operative end so that when the ever is in clamping position the said connecion will be beyond a line drawn through the pivotal point of the lever. and the link connection-on the collar. v y

In .witness that I claim the-'oregoi' 0 I -have hereunto `subscribed my name this th day of December, 1920. i

l LAURENCE A. SWEET. 

